New Version of the Honda Fit with a Crossover Twist Debuts at Sao Paulo Motor Show

Hyundai is not the only brand trying to tap into the crossover market in the sub-compact category in Brazil, as at the 2012 Sao Paulo International Motor Show, Honda also lifted the covers off its own proposal in the guise of the all-new Fit Twist. The tougher-looking version of the Fit, which is sold in Europe and other parts of the world as the Jazz, is Honda’s first vehicle to be developed exclusively for the Brazilian market. On the outside, the Twist sports plastic cladding on the front and rear bumpers and over the wheel arches and side sills, a matte aluminum finish for the protective guards, mirror caps and the taller roof bars, bigger 16-inch alloy wheels, a re-styled front grille, dark headlamps and clear tail lamp fixtures. The interior of the car is said to remain largely unchanged sans the new upholstery, the waterproof floor carpet in the boot area, and the chrome accents on the dashboard, air vents and handbrake. In spite of its more rugged appearance, the Fit Twist doesn’t even feature changes to the suspension setting as Honda kept the same ride height as the regular hatchback, with which it also shares its 1.5-liter flex-fuel engine producing 116hp when running on ethanol and 115hp on gasoline, connected to either a manual or an automatic transmission driving the front wheels. The new Fit Twist will go on sale in Brazil at the end of October with a starting price of R$57,900 (US$28,600 or €21,900 at today’s exchange rates), about R$10,000 (US$5,000 or €3,800) more than the base Fit hatchback. PHOTO GALLERY